Machinery Handbook

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I have not looked at mine for 20 or more years but think it is a very early edition of around 1912/1913. A more useful book for me is "Fowlers" engineers book, my edition is from 1933, with the internet I would not consider buying any more paper books now I am in my twilight years.

[JuddyParticipant @juddy]

I have I think the 23rd edition, which I haven't used apart from a causal flick though, my go to for most of the information I need is the Zeus book or for more involved things (rare for me). The Engineers edge web site: Engineers Edge – Engineering Reference Data and Tools

[Chris12Participant @chris12]

What about the engineers black book ? Seems well presented with only the relevant info (a bit like tubal cains handbook)

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

problem is what's relevant to one may not be to the other!

[Chris12Participant @chris12]

fair point !

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

In 1982 I bought a copy of Machinery's Handbook, and from to time still refer to it.

like Tubal cain's "Model Enginere's Handbook" a very useful reference.

Howard

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by bernard towers on 31/08/2023 09:15:20:

problem is what's relevant to one may not be to the other!

I do think a good handbook should be more than just a simple reference book. Everything in the book should be presented in a good readable manner so that non-relevant parts can be a good distraction on a cold, wet, miserable day, like today, in the workshop.

Now to read chapter 11 (Piston & Gland Seals) of Tubal Cain's handbook!

JA

Edited By JA on 31/08/2023 12:01:56

[PeteParticipant @pete41194]

Machinery’s Handbook or at least the later versions can be obtained in what the publishers call the large print version, it’s also far nicer to actually use in my opinion if your eyes are over 50 yrs old. It can also be obtained as a searchable CD. Although I believe it may not be 100% compatible with the computer program types used in the UK and maybe Europe for those CD’s. I have both in the 30th edition and use them often.

Even for what were mostly doing, having the known industrial standards is usually important. Cost wise, any used but good condition MHB copy from the 1940’s to late 1970’s would be fine. The later versions start delving into more high volume production orientated and cnc specific topics. Most or maybe all of that older information might be found online with enough searching, but it will take awhile to even find it. For myself, the trig and math tables are also highly useful. And how to properly set up or even calculate drive and gearing ratios for universal dividing heads are well worth the cost for those alone from my perspective. And for the newer versions that still contain a lot of the older information, by now it’s a safe bet that any mistakes were already found by someone and corrected in the next newer version to be published. That’s not necessarily true for anything previously scanned and found online. My own MHB would be one of the last books I’d ever get rid of, but it depends a lot on what your normally doing and how much metric your using. I don’t know about the latest copies, but there’s not much for metric information in the ones I have.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Haven’t used my 20th edition for some time now, but it’s useful for propping up other books on the shelf.

The thread prompted me to have a quick scan through, and reminded me to take it when I next visit the opticians for a new prescription.

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

I have a 15th Edition of Machinery’s Handbook, which I find I don’t use so much these days since I purchased the Europa Lehrmittel book, Mechanical and Metal Trades Handbook, (English version).

This I feel is much more relevant to my work today. If anyone is in the Forest of Dean, the Machinery’s Handbook is looking for a good home, FOC.

Regards

Gray,

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

I have my mothers copy which is an 11th Edition (IIRC she worked in  the drawing office at the Spitfire factory in Birmingham and I should have my fathers copy somewhere but cannot find it at the moment (he worked at Cincinatti in Birmingham all his life). I have referred to them on the odd occasion.

Colin

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

If you don’t know why you need a Machinery’s Handbook, you don’t need one!

In the workshop I rely on my head and a few laminated sheets.   Beyond that Tubal Cain’s “Model Engineer’s Handbook” has most of what I need, supplemented by the web.

My 1949 Newnes Engineer’s Reference Book covers the bonkers world of obsolete Imperial Measure very well, and a few older books explain Admiralty and other long gone thread systems.   Sadly I don’t have a good reference on pre-WW2 metric as practised somewhat differently by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and others.

My 21st Edition Machinery’s is good for US, British, and post WW2 metric, and it’s almost comprehensive.   The downside is it’s massive, most of the information is irrelevant to me, and the print is tiny!   I only refer to Machinery’s when all else has failed, and then it’s wonderful.

Dave

 

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